A worthy Republican challenger to Sen. Claire McCaskill in Missouri made one dumb comment to an interviewer and the entire Republican establishment is pulling the rug out from under him, essentially conceding the race to a very vulnerable Democrat.

Here’s the entirety of Rep. Todd Akin’s comment defending his pro-life position that has caused such a massive furor: “From what I understand from doctors, that’s (conception as a result of rape) really rare. If it’s a legitimate rape, the female body has ways to try to shut that whole thing down. But let’s assume that maybe that didn’t work or something, I think there should be some punishment, but the punishment ought to be of the rapist, and not attacking the child.”

Now let’s take this statement apart word for word and see where Akin went wrong.

“From what I understand from doctors, that’s (conception as a result of rape) really rare.” So far, he is absolutely, 100 percent right. It’s exceedingly rare. Some feminist sources claim as many as 5 percent of women raped get pregnant. Though you will find studies placing the percentage at 1 percent to 5 percent, many of them are politically loaded. The fact of the matter is that women can only get pregnant when they are fertile. One-third of women are either too young or too old to get pregnant. A woman is capable of being fertilized only 3 days out of 30 every month. A fourth of all women in the U.S. of childbearing years have been sterilized. Only half of all rapists deposit sperm in the victim’s vagina. Many sexual attackers are impotent or ejaculate prematurely. But, at the end of the day, it’s very rare for a rape victim to become pregnant following one attack.

“If it’s a legitimate rape, the female body has ways to try to shut that whole thing down.” This is where Akin is on thin ice. He probably meant to say “forcible rape” instead of “legitimate rape.” It is also not sound science to suggest the female body has a mechanism to shut down during a rape that protects her from pregnancy.

“But let’s assume that maybe that didn’t work or something, I think there should be some punishment, but the punishment ought to be of the rapist, and not attacking the child.” Again, how can anyone argue with this logic? Why should an innocent child, a product of rape, be exterminated because of an act of violence by someone else?

So Akin made some unfortunate, inaccurate comments. We’ve all done that. Every human being on the plant. Joe Biden does it daily, hourly.

Akin has also apologized profusely for his comments.

I’m not surprised at all that the media and the Democratic Party refuse to let the matter go. What is more disappointing is that the Republican establishment immediately dropped Akin like yesterday’s mashed potatoes – completely writing off his chances and worthiness for victory within hours of the statement.

Who among the Republicans calling on Akin to drop out of the race have never been responsible for a gaffe?

Republicans are quick to turn on their own to show just how magnanimous and respectable they are. They want to demonstrate to the media and the electorate that they are smarter than those who occasionally stumble. And this is why they remain the minority party even when Democrats are destroying the country before our eyes.

Think about it. It’s like a friend of mine said recently. “Which of the following do you find more troubling? 1) Ted Kennedy kills a woman; 2) Barney Frank runs a homosexual prostitution ring out of his apartment; 3) Bill Clinton is credibly accused of raping Juanita Broaddrick; (4) Todd Akin misspeaks.”

Does that help put this in perspective?

Should Republican Todd Akin withdraw from the U.S. Senate race?

Yes, what he said is absurd, and we don't need his kind in the Senate

Yes, he's become a liability to the entire Republican effort

Yes, he's obviously a misogynist and a dope

Yes, the Republicans desperately need to take the Senate, and his presence puts that in jeopardy

Yes, America can't have radical leaders like Akin in the Senate

No, I hope he stays so Claire McCaskill coasts to victory

No, how many mea culpas does somebody have to give for one mistake?

No, Democrats and mainstream media made a mountain out of a mole hill

No, with serial sexual predator Bill Clinton keynoting the Dem convention, why destroy Akin for a slip of the tongue?

No, the real problem Democrats have with Akin is his strong pro-life stand